Therapeutic vapor bath



Sept. 16, 1969 T. F. TIGNOR 3,466,675

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR BATH Filed Oct. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HQ 5 THm waves-fl ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,466,675 THERAPEUTIC VAPOR BATH Thomas Franklin Tignor, 621 Glenmoor Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43228 Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,187 Int. Cl. A61h 33/06 US. Cl. 4-160 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a novel improved portable therapeutic vapor bath which is designed primarily for use in an ordinary bath tub and includes a housing forming a base provided with a seating area for the user. A length of conduit is disposed within the base and includes a plurality of relatively small outlets. The top surface of the base includes a plurality of openings surrounding a solid portion which forms the seating area. The conduit is positioned within the base such that hot water leaving the small outlets in the form of a fine spray cannot reach a person on the seating area. The conduit in turn is attached to a length of hose which is adapted to be connected to an ordinary hot water faucet. Preferably, the fine spray of hot water is directed against the solid portion of the top surface of the base and a substantial amount is then converted into steam which then escapes through the openings in the top surface. A drain is provided in the bottom surface of the base and a removable cover may be attached to the base and is adapted to enclose the person setting thereon if higher temperature baths are desired.

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic baths and particularly to a novel inexpensive portable therapeutic vapor bath adapted for convenient use in ones home.

In general, the novel therapeutic bath of the present invention comprises a housing or base adapted to be placed in a conventional bathtub or shower area. The housing includes a top surface provided with a plurality of openings around the periphery thereof and includes a central area for a person to sit upon. Within the housing, tubing is mounted in the form of a coil and includes an inlet for hot water and a plurality of small outlets. Rubber hosing may be adapted to connect the tubing inlet to a source of hot water such as a conventional faucet for example.

With the increase of leisure time that is prevalent today, and with the modern trend in promoting better physical condition, there is a need for an inexpensive vapor bath which is convenient for the average person to use in the home.

Many persons are discouraged from taking vapor baths such as are provided in the health studios or gymnasiums simply because of the inconvenience of leaving their homes to travel to such an establishment. Other vapor bath units which are capable of home use are relatively expensive and require an expensive vaporizing unit in their operation.

In accordance with the present invention, a portable therapeutic vapor bath of simple inexpensive construction is provided which operates in conjunction with a conventional hot water faucet and eliminates the need for a separate boiler unit or vaporizer.

As another aspect of the present invention, a portable therapeutic vapor bath is provided which may be used in a conventional bathtub in a simple and expedient manner and which may be easily stored when not in use.

As another aspect of the present invention, a portable 3,466,675 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 therapeutic vapor bath is provided which is sturdy, durable and completely safe for home use.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which provides a sufiicient supply of vapor for a therapeutic bath without requiring a separate expensive vaporizing unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which may be used in a conventional bathtub and operated in a simple and convenient manner and which is conveniently adaptable for storage when not in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which is safe for home use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which may be manufactured and fabricated using standard procedures.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view partially in section of a vapor bath constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partially in section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the section being taken along the plane 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the position taken by a person using said apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view in section of a snap means for a curtain which is used with the apparatus of the present invention, the section being taken along line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus and person shown in FIG. 3 with the apparatus placed in a conventional bathtub.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a portable therapeutic vapor bath constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a housing, indicated generally at 20, which is preferably made of plastic so as to be lightweight and yet durable.

Housing 20 is provided with support means in the form of legs 22 which elevate an inwardly inclined bottom wall 24 above the surface upon which housing 20 rests. Bottom wall 24 is provided with a drain outlet 26.

Housing 20 also includes a top wall 28 which is supported by brackets 30.

A plurality of small openings 32 are provided around the periphery of top wall 28 to permit the outlet of vapor from within housing 20 and are so arranged to provide an area within which a person may sit upon top wall 28.

A coiled length of tubing indicated generally at 34, preferably made of plastic, is disposed within housing 20 and is mounted therein through holes in brackets 30.

Tubing 34 includes an inlet 36 at one end which extends through housing 20 and a plurality of small outlets 38 spaced along the length of tubing 34. The other end of tubing 34 is plugged at 40. It is important to point out that a plurality of small outlets 38 is much more eflicient in producing water vapor than only a few larger outlets as the numerous small outlets produce a fine spray when water under pressure enters tubing inlet 36.

Conduit means, preferably in the form of rubber hosing 42, may be used to connect the inlet 36 with the outlet of a source of hot water, such as a conventional faucet 66, FIG. 5 of a bathtub. Each end of hosing 42 is provided with a conventional frictional gripping type connecting means 44 although other forms of connecting means may be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a curtain 46, preferably made of plastic, is provided to form a tent to cover a person 48 sitting on top wall 28. Curtain 46 is removably attached to housing 20 by a resilient band 50 which holds the lower part of curtain 46 in surrounding contact with housing 20. It is important to point out that other means for attaching a curtain or tent to housing 20 may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Curtain 46 includes an on opening which may be closed by a plurality of conventional snaps 52, as best seen in FIG. 4, to permit the person 48 to sit upon top wall 28 and then enclose himself by drawing up curtain 46 and pressing the male portion 54 of snaps 52 into the female portion 56. The snaps 52 are arranged on each side of the opening in curtain 46 to provide for an overlapping effect when the snaps are closed which permits the person 48 to be relatively isolated from the atmosphere when enclosed in curtain 46.

The uppermost portion of curtain 46 is provided with a collar 58 which fits relatively snug about the persons neck when fully enclosed in curtain 46.

In operation, the user places housing 20 in a bathtub or shower room in which a hot water faucet 66 is readily available.

Hosing 42 is then connected at one end 44 to the outlet of faucet 66 and at the other end 44 to the inlet 36 of tubing 34. The faucet is turned on to permit hot water to flow into tubing 34.

A conventional foam rubber mat, not shown, or other insulating means may be placed upon top wall 28 and the person then sits upon the mat and draws curtain 46 about his person. By closing snaps 52, the curtain 46 forms a tent-like structure in which the person 48 is isolated from the atmosphere.

Hot water from faucet 66 is forced through the plurality of outlets 38 to form a rather fine spray which strikes against the underside of top wall 28. In this manner, a sufiicient amount of hot vapor is formed which outlets through openings 32 in top wall 28 to provide an efiicient vapor bath.

It is important to point out that the outermost coil of tubing 34 is disposed in housing 20 inwardly of openings 32 to prevent any hot water to accidentally come up through openings 32. This precludes accidental scalding of the person 48. The excess hot water which does not vaporize simply drains from housing 20 through drain outlet 26.

It is pointed out that the amount of vapor and therefore the temperature within curtain 46 during operation may be increased by turning the hot water tank control up to the maximum before the vapor bath is used.

It is further pointed out that curtain 46 may be eliminated and a shower curtain which is found in many homes may be drawn should the user desire a vapor bath which is not as warm but still relatively eificient for the purposes desired.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. A portable therapeutic vapor bath comprising, in

combination, a housing including a top surface provided with a plurality of small openings, and in a bottom surface provided with a drain outlet; said top surface including a seating area; first conduit means mounted in said housing and provided with an inlet and a plurality of small outlets spaced along the length of said conduit means; a source of hot Water; and second conduit means communicating with said inlet of said first conduit means and the outlet of said source of hot water whereby a flow of hot water is delivered through said small outlets in said first conduit means to create hot vapor which flows upwardly out of said openings in said top surface.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a curtain removably mounted on said housing for partially enclosing a person disposed on said seating surface.

3. A portable therapeutic vapor bath comprising, in combination, a housing forming a base and including a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, said top wall provided with a solid portion adapted to support a person and a plurality of openings disposed adjacent to said solid portion, and said bottom wall provided with a drain outlet; a first conduit means mounted within said housing and including an inlet and a plurality of relatively small outlets for producing a relatively fine spray of hot Water which is directed against certain of said walls of said housing; and second conduit means connecting said inlet of said first conduit means to a conventional hot water faucet.

4. A portable therapeutic vapor bath comprising, in combination, a housing forming a base and including a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, said top wall provided with a solid portion adapted to support a person and a plurality of openings disposed adjacent to said solid portion, and said bottom wall provided with a drain outlet; first conduit means mounted in said housing directly below said solid portion of said top wall including an inlet and a plurality of relatively small outlets facing upwardly toward said solid portion to direct a relatively fine spray of water against said solid portion; and second conduit means connecting said inlet of said first conduit means to a conventional hot water faucet.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3 including a flexible cover removably mounted in surrounding relationship to said housing and extending upwardly to partially enclose a person seated on said top wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,066 5/1897 Mengis 4162 1,157,842 10/1915 Brandelle 416-2 1,481,819 1/1924 Baggs 4-160 1,652,437 12/1927 Handelan 4162 1,744,496 1/ 1930 Partenico 4-162 2,041,852 5/1936 Metzger 4-160 3,025,533 3/1962 Hair 4-162 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,154 1/1858 Great Britain. 2,473 11/ 1863 Great Britain. 8,057 5/ 1879 Germany.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

